The EU Just Stepped Up Its Fight Against Disinformation

Topline

Google and Meta were among a number of tech giants that have signed the European Commission’s updated and stronger guidelines on disinformation, the latest in a string of measures the EU has taken to fight disinformation during the pandemic and amid the war in Ukraine.

BERLIN, GERMANY – JULY 06: The flag of the European Union flies over the Reichstag the day after a … [+] majority of people voted “no” in the Greek referendum on July 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Greeks voted in a strong majority against the reform plan proposed by the troika of the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission in a move that many fear will lead to a departure by Greece from the Eurozone. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

The EU’s updated Code of Practice on Disinformation includes commitments to transparency in political advertising, demonetization of disinformation and reducing methods of spreading disinformation, such as fake accounts and bot-driven amplification.

The tech firms are required to regularly assess acts of disinformation and update the different ways disinformation shows up on their sites.

Google, Meta, Tik Tok, Twitter, Twitch and Microsoft are among 34 companies to sign on to the agreement, a group that also includes fact-checkers and ad-tech firms, while more can sign on later.

The Code also includes measures to grant researchers access to more data, ensure fact-checking in all EU languages and encourages users to flag disinformation, although it is up to companies to decide which commitments they’ll follow.

Platforms and search engines that reach up to 45 million people—or 10% of Europe’s population—must submit reports every six months for a Task Force to assess how they’re following the Code, and a Transparency Centre will be established for citizens to review reports.

Key Background

The updated code announced Thursday builds on the Code of Practice on Disinformation that was launched in October 2018 and was signed by Google, Facebook, Twitter, Mozilla, Microsoft, Tik Tok, advertising companies and advertising industry professionals. It comes on the heels of other European Commission efforts and legislative proposals to combat the spread of disinformation on Covid, Russia and political party funding, such as the Digital Services Act and Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising.

Big Number

6%. That’s the proportion of global turnover a tech company could be fined if they fail to meet the EU’s commitments.

What To Watch For:

The Commission, along with company representatives and other EU agencies will form a permanent Task Force that will meet every six months, or as-needed, to keep companies accountable. By 2023, firms that have signed on will have been expected to implement the codes and measures and share a report with the Task Force for review.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/darreonnadavis/2022/06/16/the-eu-just-stepped-up-its-fight-against-disinformation-heres-what-that-means/